How Video Games Can Develop Graduate Attributes

Barr, M. (2019) How Video Games Can Develop Graduate Attributes. QAA Focus On: Graduate Skills, Glasgow, UK, 05-06 Jun 2019.

Abstract

The higher education sector is increasingly expected to produce graduates that are adequately prepared for the workplace, equipped with a range of skills and competencies that many universities refer to as graduate attributes. These attributes typically include strong communication skills, the ability to think critically, and the capacity to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. However, embedding the development of such attributes into the curriculum is not always straightforward. The work described here outlines how video games – which exercise many of the skills that employers seek – may be used to develop students’ graduate attributes. As part of a randomised study, a range of measures were used to determine if playing selected video games at university could improve students’ adaptability, resourcefulness, and communication skill. By the end of the study, students asked to play the selected games over the course of a semester showed statistically significant gains in graduate attribute attainment compared to students who did not play the games. The presentation will conclude with an overview of the practical issues associated with using games to develop graduate skills and offer some reflections on how and why the game-based intervention was apparently successful.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barr, Dr Matthew
• Authors: Barr, M.
• Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science